Marion Bartoli never forgot what it was like to play Venus Williams in the championship match of Wimbledon two years ago.
The Frenchwoman must have paid close attention to her notes because she played textbook tennis on Sunday in Stanford.
Bartoli, the eighth seed at the 2009 Bank of the West Classic, upset second seed Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 today to win the singles title in California.
“The only chance to win that was to take my chances, because otherwise Venus wouldn’t give me anything,” Marion said after the final. “I gave everything I had today.”
This was their first meeting since Venus defeated Bartoli two years ago to win her fourth Wimbledon championship.
Bartoli, who lost in the final last year to Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak, put pressure on Venus’ serve from the opening game of the match and converted eight of her fourteen break points.
“”Marion played really well today,” Williams said. “I have to give her credit for playing so well.”
After the singles final, Serena and Venus Williams beat Chan Yung-Jan and Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-1 for their third doubles title of the year, after the Australian Open and Wimbledon (their eighth and ninth Grand Slams). The win represents the first non-Grand Slam doubles title for the pair since Hannover in 1999.
Bartoli provided me with three interesting three-set matches over Jankovic, Stosur and V. Williams. I am just happy that the final, for once (women’s that is), was a very good one with both players playing hard. It is so often the case that finals are often one-sided and a quick two sets. Props to both Venus and Marion for giving us a great final!
Nice photo Aaress, never seen that one before.